Integrated pin and clip

ABSTRACT

An integrated pin and clip for securing vehicle trailer components. The integrated pin and clip includes a shaft member and a clip member. The clip member is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. The unlocked position allows for the integrated pin and clip to be inserted and withdrawn from a receiving aperture in a vehicle trailer component, such as a receiver. The locked position does not allow the integrated pin and clip to be inserted and withdrawn from the aperture. The integrated pin and clip also includes retention means that secures the clip in either the locked position or the unlocked position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.10/710,253, filed on Jun. 29, 2004, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional application No. 60/481,045 filed Jun. 30, 2003, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many vehicles today are equipped to provide for towing trailers,campers, boats, or the like. Most vehicles are equipped with areceiver-type trailer hitch, wherein the trailer attaches to a hitchball secured to a ball mount located on the back of the vehicle. Mostvehicles do not have an integral hitch ball, but instead have a meansfor receiving a hitch ball onto the ball mount. Typically, thesevehicles have a receiver or a tube that receives a draw-bar that has anintegral or attachable hitch ball. The vehicle trailer receiver and drawbar have corresponding holes that align when the draw bar is fullyattached. Once these holes are aligned, a coupler pin can be placedthrough the corresponding holes, thereby securing the draw bar to thevehicle. The coupler pin may include a clip that can be moved such as toprevent withdrawal of the coupler pin. The non-inserted end of thecoupler pin is designed to prevent further insertion of the coupler pininto the corresponding holes. This can be achieved by enlarging thenon-inserted end, placing a larger portion on the non-inserted end, orbending the non-inserted end such that it cannot be inserted into thecorresponding holes.

In the past, coupler pins have provided for a locking, or securing,means that prevents movement back to the position wherein the couplerpin can be removed. However, such coupler pins do not provide any otherlocking, or securing, means. As a consequence the installer must alignthe coupler clip with the holes and make sure that it does not movewhile the coupler pin is inserted into the trailer receiver. As such,there exists a need for an improved coupler pin that provides for easyapplication and removal of the coupler pin and can be secured inposition once inserted into the trailer.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an integrated pin and clip for securinga ball mount to a receiver. The integrated pin and clip includes alocking member that can secured in two different positions, a lockedposition and an unlocked position. The locking member is in the unlockedposition when generally coaxial to the shaft of the integrated pin andclip and in the locked position when generally perpendicular to theshaft of the integrated pin and clip. The locking member is secured ineach of those positions by a retention means, which requires force ormovement in order to allow the clip to move to and from the locked andunlocked positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the integrated pin and clip shown in the lockedposition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an integrated pinand clip shown in the locked position.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is an integrated pin and clip, generally referredto as 10. The integrated pin and clip 10 includes locking means,generally referred to as 20, and a shaft member 25. The locking means 20is designed to have two distinct positions, a locked position and anunlocked position. When the locking means 20 is in the unlockedposition, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, the lockingmeans is generally parallel to the shaft member 25 and allows insertionof the integrated pin and clip 10 into a hole in a receiver 30. When thelocking means 20 is in the locked position, such as shown in FIGS. 2, 4,6, 8, 10, and 12, the locking means is generally perpendicular to theshaft member 25 and does not allow the integrated pin and clip 10 to beremoved from the receiver 30. FIG. 15 illustrated an embodiment of theintegrated pin and clip 10 in the locked position on a receiver.

Each of the locked and unlocked positions include a retaining means thatmaintain the locking means 20 in the respective locked and unlocked, orneutral, positions. The retaining means can include a number ofmechanisms and is best described in the illustrative embodiments below.These embodiments are not meant to be limiting, but merely examples ofillustrating the inventive concept described herein. Generally, theretaining means requires some additional force or movement of thelocking means in order to move the locking means from the locked orunlocked position. As such, the pin will remain so positioned until theuser provides for such force or movement, thereby avoiding accidentalmovement and allowing easy application of the integrated pin and clip.

The details of the present invention will now be described withreference to a number of illustrative embodiments. It should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the present inventionshould not be limited to any of the particular embodiments disclosedherein, as modifications and combinations of the disclosed embodimentsare contemplated by this application.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate the first embodiment of the integrated pin and clip10. The integrated pin and clip 10 is an angled piece of bar stockforming a shaft member 25 and a angled member 35, with a cutout portion40 at the opposite end as the angled member. The cutout portion 40generally includes three cut outs, located 90 degrees apart, in thegeneral shape to receive the locking member 20. In this embodiment, thelocking member is a clip 20 a that is a cylindrical piece that caninclude indented regions 42 towards the middle of the clip to assist ingripping. The clip is spring-loaded to securely hold the clip againstthe shaft member 25. To operate the integrated pin and clip 10, the userpulls the spring-loaded locking clip into coaxial alignment with theshaft 25 and allows the locking clip to lock into engagement with thecut-out portion 40 located on the end 44 of the shaft 25. This positionis shown in FIG. 1. The user can then insert the integrated pin and clip10 into the vehicle receiver, coupler or other device and the clip 20 awill maintain coaxial alignment with the shaft member 25. The integratedpin and clip 10 is inserted through the receiver until the clip 20 a isreceived through the opposite side of the receiver, as shown in FIG. 15.The clip 20 a can then be moved to a locking position, shown in FIG. 2,by pulling the clip 20 a from engagement with the cut-out portion 40 androtating it 90 degrees in either direction. The clip 25 can then bereleased and the spring seats the clip in one of the locking cut-outportions along the sides 46 of the shaft member 25. The angled end 35 ofthe integrated pin and clip 10 prevents further insertion. To remove theintegrated pin and clip 10, the clip 20 a is moved into coaxialalignment with the shaft member 25, thereby allowing the integrated pinand clip 10 to be removed from the receiver.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the integrated pin andclip 10. The integrated pin and clip 10 is an angled piece of bar stockforming a shaft member 25 and a angled member 35, with a cutout portion40 at the opposite end as the angled member. The cutout portion 40generally includes three cut outs, located 90 degrees apart, in thegeneral shape to receive the locking member 20. In this embodiment, thelocking member is a blade 20 b. The locking blade 20 b is generally aflat with rounded ends, and includes a slot 50 through which a pivot pin52 is received. The locking blade 20 b includes notches 55 on eitherside 56, as well as on the back side 57, for receiving spring-loadedball bearings, or pins (not shown). To operate, the locking blade 20 bis pulled outward away from the shaft member 25 to disengage the ballbearing from the back side notch 55. The locking blade 20 b is thenrotated ninety degrees in either direction and slid radially until oneof the side notches 55 engage the spring-loaded ball bearing. Sopositioned, the receiver is locked as the integrated pin and clip 10cannot be further advanced nor removed from the receiver. To remove theintegrated pin and clip 10, the locking blade 20 b is slid radially androtated to the unlocked position, where the locking blade 20 b isgenerally coaxial to the shaft member 25. Once in the unlocked position,the spring-loaded ball bearing engages the notch 55 in the back side 57of the locking blade 20 b, thereby securing the locking blade 20 b inthe neutral or coaxial position. So positioned, the integrated pin andclip 10 can be removed from the receiver and the clip will not rotate.

One variation on the integrated pin and clip 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3is to replace the indents 55 and slot 50 with a t-shaped slot (notshown). When the locking blade 20 b is moved to the locked position, theball bearing will push the locking blade 20 b outward thereby slidingthe pivot pin 52 into one of the “t”-extensions and securing the clip inthe locked position.

FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a third embodiment of the integrated pin and clip10. The integrated pin and clip 10 is an angled piece of bar stockforming a shaft member 25 and a angled member 35, with a cutout portion40 at the opposite end as the angled member. The cutout portion 40generally includes three cut outs, located 90 degrees apart, in thegeneral shape to receive the locking member 20. In this embodiment, thelocking member is a tweezer-like clip 20 c. The clip 20 c is a bentpiece of sheet shock with notches 55 cut into the sides 56 and end 57.Typically the clip 20 c is generally u-shaped, although otherconfigurations are conceivable, with a slot 50 that engages a pivot pin52. The notches 55 on the side and back are designed to engage a springbiased ball bearing, similar to that in FIGS. 3 and 4. As such,operation of the clip 20 c is also similar to that of the embodiment inFIGS. 3 and 4. One modification that can be made to this embodiment isto replace the notches 55 with cutout sections (not shown) whichinteract with a stepped portion in the back of the cutout in the shaftmember. The cutout portions engage the stepped portion when the clip ismoved to the locked position. To operate, the clip 20 c is compressed tomove then ends from engagement with the stepped portion and then rotatedninety degrees in either direction. The clip 20 c is then slid radiallyoutward until then notches catch on the stepped portion, thereby lockingthe clip into position. To remove the integrated pin and clip 10, theclip is compressed, thereby disengages the notches from the steps, slidradially, and then rotated to the coaxial, or neutral, position. Once inthe neutral position, the ends of the clip 20 c engage the steps andprevent movement and the coupler pin can be removed from the receiver.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate a third embodiment of the integrated pin and clip10. The integrated pin and clip 10 is an angled piece of bar stockforming a shaft member 25 and a angled member 35, with a cutout portion40 a at the opposite end as the angled member. The cutout portion 40 agenerally includes a portion taken from the shaft member 25 on oppositesides. In this embodiment, the locking member is u-shaped clip 20 dfastened about the central stem 70 of the integrated pin and clip end.The clip 20 d is generally u-shaped and connected to the integrated pinand clip 10 via a pivot pin 52 which is inserted through a slot 50located on each of the u-shaped arms 72 of the clip 20 d. On the cut outportions 40 a of the integrated pin and clip 10 are generally flat withfour (two on each flat portion) generally spherical detent-receivingcutouts 76. The clip 20 d has two detents 78 located on either arm 72,positioned such that the detents engage one set of the detent-receivingcutouts 76 when the clip 20 d is in the neutral or unlocked position anda second set of detent-receiving cutouts 76 when the clip 20 d is in thelocked position. As such, to operate the integrated pin and clip 10, theclip 20 d is forced to disengage the first set of detents 78 from thefirst set of detent-receiving cutouts 78, thereby allowing the clip 20 dto rotate ninety degrees in either direction. Once rotated ninetydegrees, the clip 20 d is slid radially until the second set of detents76 is secured in the second set of detent-receiving cutouts 78. Sopositioned, the receiver is locked as the integrated pin and clip 10cannot be further inserted or removed from the receiver. To remove theintegrated pin and clip 10 from the receiver, the clip 20 d is forcedsuch that the second detents 76 disengage from the second set ofdetent-receiving cut-outs 78 and the clip 20 d is slid radially and thenrotated to the unlocked or neutral position. Once in the neutralposition, the first set of detents 76 engage the first set of detentreceiving cutouts 78, thereby securing the clip 20 d coaxial to the pin.The integrated pin and clip 10 can thus be removed from the receiver andthe clip 20 d will not rotate.

A modification to this embodiment would be to switch the locations ofthe detents 76 with the detent-receiving cut-outs 78. The integrated pinand clip 10 would operate in the same manner.

Another modification of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11-12. Theclip 20 e is generally u-shaped with a slot 50 formed by a tension arm80. The clip slot 50 engages a pivot pin 50. The back side of the clip20 e includes a generally flattened portion 82 which provides resistanceto the rotation of the clip 20 e. To operate, the clip 20 e is rotatedninety degrees and slid radially. As the clip 20 e is slid, the pivotpin 52 applies pressure to the tension arm 80 until the pivot pin 50 isengaged by a set of notches 84 in the tension arm 80. The notches 84allow the tension arm 80 to snap back into place, thereby secure thepivot pin 52 therein. So positioned, the coupler is locked as theintegrated pin and clip 10 cannot be further inserted and the clip 20 eprevents removal of the integrated pin and clip 10. To remove theintegrated pin and clip 10, pressure is applied to the end of the clip20 e in the radial direction. The pressure allows the pivot pin 52 toadvance from the notches 84 and thereby expand the tension arm 80. Theclip 20 e can then be move radially and then rotated to the unlocked orneutral position. Once in the unlocked position, the integrated pin andclip 10 can be removed from the receiver and the clip 20 e will notfreely rotate.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the integrated pin andclip 10. The integrated pin and clip 10 is an angled piece of bar stockforming a shaft member 25 and a angled member 35, with a cutout portion40 a at the opposite end as the angled member. The cutout portion 40 agenerally includes a portion taken from the shaft member 25 on oppositesides. In this embodiment, the locking member is a slide clip 20 f. Theclip 20 f is generally u-shaped with a base side 90 connecting theu-shaped arms 92. Optionally, the back 93 of the clip 20 f can be closedas well. The clip 20 f includes notches on each of the u-shaped armsthat receive a pivot pin. The clip 20 f includes a flattened end portion94 that prevents rotation form the unlocked position. The integrated pinand clip 10 operates in a similar manner as the above embodiments, andany of the mentioned retention means can be added to assist in securingthe clip 20 f in the locked position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an adapter sleeve 100 that can be used inconjunction with any of the embodiments mentioned herein. The adaptersleeve 100 generally slides over the shaft member 25 and provides for anincreased diameter. Furthermore, nubs 105 can be added to the shaft 25to prevent the adapter sleeve 100 from sliding axially along the shaftmember.

FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention,specifically an integrated pin and clip 10 that is used in conjunctionwith a coupler 108. The integrated pin and clip 10 is inserted into thecoupler latch 108 to prevent the uncoupling of the coupler 108 from thehitch ball (not shown). The integrated pin and clip 10 may include achain 110 that allows the integrated pin and clip 10 from becomingdetached from the coupler 108.

Each of the embodiments disclosed herein are disclosed as illustrativeembodiments of the present invention. Modifications of these embodimentsare contemplated and included in this application. For example, therotation of the clip ninety degrees can be in any orientation relativeto the bent portion of the coupler pin. In other embodiments the couplerpin need not be bent, but instead may include a stop section that islarger than the coupler holes, such as to prevent further insertion ofthe pin. In other embodiments, detents can be replaced withspring-loaded ball bearings or pins. In still other embodiments, thelocking clip can take other shapes or configurations such that itmaintains the advantages disclosed in this application. It should benoted the orientation of the locking member 20 rotation, the angle ofthe angled portion 35, and the nubs 105 are shown merely as oneparticular set of embodiments. As such, any of these orientations can bemodified from that which is shown and still achieve the invention as setforth herein.

1. An integrated pin and clip comprising: a shaft member; a lockingmember located at a first end of said shaft member, wherein said lockingmember is movable between a first position that is generally coaxial tosaid shaft member and a second position that is generally perpendicularto said shaft member; and retention means that secures said lockingmember in said first position and said second position.
 2. Theintegrated pin and clip of claim 1 further comprising an angled endportion located at a second end of said shaft member.
 3. The integratedpin and clip of claim 1 wherein said locking member is rotated about apivot pin between said first and second positions.
 4. The integrated pinand clip of claim 1 further comprising a set of nubs located on saidshaft member.
 5. An integrated pin and clip comprising: a shaft member;a locking member movable between a first position and a second position,wherein said first position allows for insertion and removal of theintegrated pin and clip into a receiving hole and said second positiondoes not allow for insertion and removal of the integrated pin and clipinto a receiving hole; and retention means that secures said lockingmember in said first position and said second position.
 6. Theintegrated pin and clip of claim 5 further comprising an angled endportion located at a second end of said shaft member.
 7. The integratedpin and clip of claim 5 wherein said locking member is rotated about apivot pin between said first and second positions.
 8. The integrated pinand clip of claim 5 further comprising a set of nubs located on saidshaft